Behavioural treatments of phobias PPO

Question 1

Systematic desensitisation SD-

Answer 1

Systematic desensitisation SD- a behavioural therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response

• If a person can relax in the presence of the phobic stimulus they will be cured
• New response to the phobic stimulus is learned (counter conditioning)

Question 2

flooding

Answer 2

Flooding- a behavioural therapy in which a person with a phobia is exposed to an extreme form of a phobic stimulus in order to reduce anxiety triggered by that stimulus

No gradual build up to exposure
Long sessions

How does it work?
No option of avoidance of behaviour
Client learns that phobic stimulus is harmless
In classical conditioning this is called extinction

Ethical safeguards
It is an unpleasant event but clients give full informed consent and therefore are prepared for the session.

Question 3

reciprocal inhibition

Answer 3

reciprocal inhibition - when one emotion prevents the other

Question 4

3 processes of systematic desensitisation

Answer 4

• the anxiety hirearchy
• relaxation
• exposure

Question 5

the anxiety hirearchy

Answer 5

list of situations that provoke anxiety

Question 6

relaxation

Answer 6

• taught to relax as deeply as possible
• Can be afraid and relaxed at the same time
• Reciprocal inhibition
• Meditation

Question 7

exposure

Answer 7

• Exposed of phobic stimulus while in relaxed state
• Several sessions
• Successful when client can stay relaxed in high anxiety conditions
  *

Question 8

Evidence for effectiveness of systematic desensitisation

strength

Answer 8

• Gilroy et al
• 42 people having SD for spider phobia
• 3 X 45 min sessions
• At 3 and 33 months they were less scared than control group who had relaxation without exposure
• Welchsler et al said SD works for specific phobia, social phobia and agoraphobia
  Likely to help people with phobias

Question 9

People with learning disabilities for systematic desensitisation

strength

Answer 9

• Used to help with learning disabilities
• They often struggle with cognitive therapies that require complex thinking
• May be confused and traumatised by flooding
  Appropriate for people who have learning disabilities and phobias

Question 10

SD in virtual reality

strength and limitation

Answer 10

Exposure in VR and avoid danger and is cheap

Might be less effective as it lacks realism (Wechsler et al)

Question 11

flooding is Cost-effective

strength

Answer 11

• Works in one long session sometimes
  More people can be treated at the same cost with flooding that with SD

Question 12

flooding is Traumatic

limitation

Answer 12

• Unpleasant experience
• Tremendous anxiety from confronting phobic stimulus
• **Schumacher et al **said its significantly more stressful
• Ethical issue but they get informed consent
• Dropout rates are higher
  Therapists may avoid using this